White's last meeting

The Otero County Commissioners said goodbye with many thanks to Director of Public Works Brent White on Monday. It was his last meeting with the commissioners.

The Otero County Commissioners said goodbye with many thanks to Director of Public Works Brent White on Monday. It was his last meeting with the commissioners. Chairman Keith Goodwin thanked White for his accomplishments, notably the shredding of the tires at the landfill with the help of a state grant, the construction of new bridges on county roads and other innovative approaches to public works during his tenure. Deputy Director Lex Nichols will be taking over at the end of the month.

Rebecca Goodwin appeared before the commissioners to explain the changes in the Santa Fe Trail. Colorado had never filed the Santa Fe Trail Multiple Property Documentation form. That document is now in process of being filed. With some adjustments and comments, the Otero County Preservation Board has supplied the Colorado Certified Local Government National register Nomination Review Report Form. Work needs to be done on the location of Bent's Old Fort, Bent's New Fort, and the Sand Creek Massacre, as well as documentation concerning the relations with local native American tribes. Goodwin expressed the thanks of the reviewers for the work of the Daughters of the American Revolution beginning in 1908 to mark the location of the trail. Many of the sites would be lost by now if not for their work.

Letters of support were granted to several entities. Dee Hostetler appeared for Clean Valley Recycling's request for more funds from the Recycling Resources Economic opportunity Fund Grant Program. They are in need of a horizontal baler to bale plastic recyclables that are generated in this area. The expansion of operations could potentially create the development of jobs as well as reduce the expense and resources involved in travel and shipping and handling associated with transport and processing of these materials to Pueblo West.

The commissioners are also supporting the application of Canyons & Plans, The National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Palmer Land rust, Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Educational and Charitable Foundation to the Gates Family Foundation for a grant to support activities in the Lower Arkansas Valley.